Kaspersky Lab is beginning open beta testing of a new generation protection system for Symbian smartphones, and is inviting all interested parties to participate.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile also provides a pioneering antispam component that protects phone owners from mass-mailed advertising distributed via SMS/MMS. The antispam component has three predefined operating modes with different filtering levels: ‘Enable’, ‘B/W Lists Only’ and ‘Disable’.

In the ‘Enable’ mode the antispam module filters incoming messages based on the blacklist and the whitelist, which are compiled by the user. When a message is received from a telephone number that is on neither list, the antispam module prompts the user to block or allow the message, and then to add the sender number to one of the lists. In this mode the antispam module operates as a personal SMS/MMS filter that ensures that the user receives only the messages that are needed. In the ‘B/W Lists Only’ mode the system filters incoming messages based only on the data from the blacklist and the whitelist. Messages from numbers that are on neither list are received without prompting the user. Finally, in the ‘Disable’ mode incoming messages are not filtered.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile can be installed on smartphones running versions 6.1, 7.0s and 8.X, Series 60 UI of the Symbian operating system. The product is available in two variants: one for Symbian OS 6.1 and 7.0, Series 60 UI, the other for Symbian OS 8.0 and 8.1, Series 60 UI. Beta 2 version of the product, which is currently being developed, will include support for the following platforms: Symbian Series UIQ and Windows Mobile 2003/5.0 Smartphone edition.